Jimmy Gnecco (of Ours) - Studio at Webster Hall, NYC, 7.17.2011

So I'm doing things a little out of order here, but that's what keeps life interesting, right? I originally wasn't planning on going to this show, since it was a Sunday night and weeknight shows can be hard for me with travel and work. But I was already going to be in NYC that weekend for the Culture Fix show the previous Friday so with a little bit of convincing, I decided to stay the full weekend and wrap my 4-show run at the Studio at Webster Hall. I'm so glad I did - it was one of the most awesome shows I've been to. But let me back up and start at the beginning.

Jimmy Gnecco - Northstar Bar, Philadelphia 6.24.11

Photo Courtesy of Lisa Gansky Photography

This was the show that we almost didn't make it to thanks to the traffic from hell. But we made it, just as Lukas Rossi was finishing his set, so we didn't miss any of Jimmy.  Northstar is a cool venue with a high stage, so even if you're standing in the back of the room, you can still see the performer. When we first walked in, Lukas Rossi was just finishing up and was sitting on a chair on the stage. Even though I was at the bar, I could still see him and the acoustic were great. In addition, there is an upstairs balcony that pretty much hangs right over the top of the stage. Its a nice alternative that gives you a different perspective. Its also nice when its super crowded. The show that night wasn't, but there was still a good crowd.

One Year Later + Music that Inspires Me

I realized the other day that I've had this blog for a full year. I can't believe it's been that long - and its been quite a year. Looking back - the amount of shows I've been to, the amount of things I've done - I just can't wrap my head around it. I feel like I've done a lot and shared so many experiences - and just the fact that I've kept up with it for so long. When I started, I was just doing this for me, and while I still am - I also love sharing it with all of you - thank you to everyone who's read this, supported it, and shared it. I am excited to see what the future brings!

That all being said, I've been thinking about doing a post about this the last few days, and I figured this was a good tie in with the sentimental post. I'm inspired by music daily and it sometimes hits like a ton of bricks and sometimes it worms its way into my head over a period of time. Here are a few songs that have inspired me over the last year.

Ours - Ran Away to Tell The World
This song was one of the sneaky ones. It wormed its way into my head over a period of time and just didn't leave. It's now one of my favorite songs and one that I listen to to feed my brain daily and to remind me that I can't wait around for things to happen - I need to make them happen.

Ryan Star - 11:59
The whole album actually ties in with the theme of live in the moment and don't let life pass you by because the best times are the ones right now, but I just love the simplicity of it. I first heard it the first time I heard him play live and went nuts trying to find it because I needed it in my life, and I'm glad to say, it was absolutely worth the wait.

30 Seconds to Mars - Closer to the Edge
This came about kind of randomly - I saw 30STM 2 weeks ago in Boston, as I'd won tickets. I've liked them for awhile and really really loved their latest album, but this song hit me like a ton of bricks when I ended up really listening to the lyrics. And now I've fallen down the rabbit hole. Which is really not a bad place to be!

I'm headed to NYC this weekend to catch Plain Jane Automobile's release show and also Mike Robins is playing an acoustic set, so look for posts on both of those next week. :)

Jimmy Gnecco - Maxwell's, Hoboken, NJ 12/19/10

This was my last show of 2010 and I almost didn't make it! The show had originally been announced back in October, and I had made tentative plans to go, provided the weather cooperated. The week before the show, the weather had been calling for a major snowstorm that Sunday into Monday. I'd been bumming out and praying the storm went out to sea so I could go - and that was what happened. Friday night before the show, it was confirmed the storm was going out to sea, and I made my plans to go. I arrived late afternoon on Sunday and hung out for awhile before I got ready to go and left, thinking I'd arrive in plenty of time. Boy was I wrong! The show was uncharacteristically early, and what should have taken about 15 minutes to get to Maxwells took almost 45, thanks to traffic from the Giants game. But I arrived about 5 minutes before doors opened and met up with some friends before heading into the venue.

Review: How to Kill A Rockstar

Have you ever read something that's so powerful that you almost don't know where to begin when you read the last pages? Its been a long time since a book has given me that reaction. I think the last time was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, actually. But I digress. On a friend's recommendation, I picked up How to Kill a Rockstar by Tiffanie DeBartolo a couple of weeks ago, being that the lead male's voice in the book was how Tiffanie hears Jimmy Gnecco's. (See, a Jimmy reference). It's such an engaging story, I could not put it down from the time that I opened it. It took me a bit longer then normal to read it (usually when I read something that's really good, I read fast and am done in 2 days) between being sick and Erin being here on vacation (and holy hell, there is a insect running across my living room floor as I'm typing this), but I finished it tonight. Some people said the ending was really out there and unrealistic. I didn't think so at all. I had tears in my eyes as I read the last pages, and I didn't want it to end.

It's touched a nerve with me. We've all been in Eliza's shoes at one point in our life - its very relateable. You love someone enough to let them go and hope that if the stars align, they'll come back to you, safe and sound. But the reality of it is that if you mess with fate, who knows what will happen. I am so emotionally involved with Eliza right now, I can't even begin to tell you. I felt every single thing that she was feeling, I cried with her and laughed with her. Other characters I wanted to smack upside the head and say "What the hell is WRONG with you?" There were parts where I felt that my heart had been ripped in two. I am trying so valiantly to put into words what I'm feeling right now because there's no way I'm going to sleep at the moment, even though it's 1 in the morning. I feel like I need a day or 2 to digest this and process everything that I'm feeling, but I just...can't. The book is an emotional roller coaster, and I'm so so so glad that I didn't peek ahead to the last pages - it would have totally ruined the effect for me. I think what made it so powerful was the writing and the way that the story was told. It could have very quickly gotten out of hand with the changing POV's, but it didn't. It flowed wonderfully and I was engrossed from the very first page. I felt like it combines a love story with music, and that's what makes it what it is.

I will admit that I read it because the author is affiliated with Bright Antenna, which is the Indie label that Jimmy Gnecco is signed to. Instead of Paul throughout the story, I heard Jimmy's voice. And most of you know how his music has touched me over the last year since I discovered Ours. I felt like this story, like the music, has touched me deep in my soul and left me wanting more. I feel alive and emotional, almost like I've just left a live Ours show. I read the acknowledgments at the end of the book and saw Jimmy's name on there. Knowing that he was an inspiration just....I don't even know. I can't describe what's going through my head and my heart right now. It gives me hope that one day I will love like that.

Bottom line? Read this book. Have tissues handy. And prepare to go on the roller coaster ride of your life.

How I Became a Jimmy Gnecco/OURS Fan

I was asked recently, Jimmy Gnecco and Ours - you seem to be a huge fan, based on your postings - what's the best thing about him/them, and what made you become such a fan?"

Cross posted from my LiveJournal - because I think that this is important to a lot of the things I will be talking about. I will be writing about other shows and artists of course, but I talk about Jimmy a lot.

I was first introduced to Ours' music through my friend Erin, who I had met on a David Cook board. She had either posted about it or shared something - one of the two. I was immediately intrigued so I asked her to send me more, which she did. After that - I got their latest CD (Mercy) and decided I had to see them live after Erin had come back from a show in Atlanta in July 2008 and posted a couple of videos. I joined up on a fanboard (KTB) and saw a show announced for the Bowery Ballroom in NYC in September 2008. I was going to be on vacation that week so I figured I could swing it - then a Cambridge show was announced and I scrapped my plans to go to NYC and planned to go to the show in Cambridge. It was a Wednesday night and it posed a problem - none of my friends wanted to go with me, so I had resigned myself to going alone.

Erin had just started a new job and had said there was no way that she could get it off to come up - until she took a chance and asked her boss. Her boss said yes so Erin not only flew up to Boston on her birthday to share it with Jimmy and I - but to also be there for my first Jimmy/Ours experience. It was an unbelievable experience. The band live is so intense - and I felt that the music touched me in a spot in my soul that I didn't know music could. Erin and I also completely bonded over Jimmy. I can't thank him enough for introducing me to my best friend - the sister I never had growing up. I saw them two more times in 2008 - both with Erin - in Nashville and Atlanta, respectively - and then went through a bit of a drought until August of 2009 when they opened for Blue October.

Jimmy has since been working on a solo album, so he's been doing a bit of touring himself before the album drops (This spring!) and I've seen him three times since October - all in NJ/NYC. Its something that I never thought I would do, especially drive alone to NY - but I've met an entire new group of friends that are based in that area.

Probably the best thing about his music/Ours music - is that its honest. It's a tad emo, its raw. But its hopeful and no matter what, pulls me out of a funk. Its what I first run to if I need to calm down, or am scared or nervous. And the best thing about Jimmy - he's so genuine. He is so giving with his time and talks to everyone who wants to talk to him after shows. He truly listens to what you have to say and looks you in the eye. His eyes are so blue and boar into your soul - which makes me feel a little intimidated - but he's the nicest guy. Not to mention he has a kick-ass memory. I was able to talk to him after the Maxwells show in December and thank him for his music, and bringing me together with Erin, and he was just completely blown away. I've gotten smiles from him on stage when he saw me in the crowd - and at the last show (Mercury Lounge), when I talked to him after and couldn't remember if I'd introduced myself to him - he said I had and gave me not only a hug, but a kiss on the cheek. Because the fandom is so small and loyal - its the same people who go to the shows - Jimmy gets to know everyone - at least recognize people - which I think is pretty awesome. Jimmy's bandmates are also amazingly nice too.

And the fandom itself is pretty awesome. Everyone there is so nice and welcoming. And giving. I have yet to run across a horrible person who's a Jimmy/Ours fan. Its very small and very loyal. People go to a lot of the shows so we all know each other. Its like a secret society. To be quite honest, Jimmy and the band deserve major label success, playing larger venues then he is that hold thousands - not hundreds. But for purely selfish reasons - I like the way it is now. Its intimate. Its small. The shows are inexpensive (I have not paid more than $30 for a show, and that was only because Blue October was headlining) and we have full access to Jimmy and the guys before/after the show. But after talking to some other friends - I don't see Jimmy playing anything bigger than theaters - as he's all about the intimacy when it comes to the shows.

I would be completely lost in my life without Ours' music in my life. I can't wait to see what Jimmy's solo album is like - although I've heard a lot of it - he's played a lot of new stuff at the shows - and I just can't wait to hear the album itself. I can't wait for the next Ours album. The music will continue to be a huge part of my life - and its brought me together with some of the best people I've ever know.